THR For PNS, TNI, Liquid Police H-10 While H-7 Workers, Observers: Should Just Be Equalized

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Religious holiday allowance (THR) in 2021 for civil servants and military-police will be disbursed on D-10 before Eid. Meanwhile, new workers or laborers are paid the latest on D-7. The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) assesses that the timing of THR payments should be equalized.

Executive Director of Indef Tauhid Ahmad said that referring to the Manpower Act Number 13 of 2003, the regulation on the spread of the THR at the latest is indeed D-7. Meanwhile, the acceleration of THR payments for PNS, TNI-Polri is not regulated.

"In my opinion, to make it better, (private) workers are also promoted. The more THR is advanced at the beginning, of course, to boost consumption, it is better than in recent times, instead for consumption, the time is relatively limited," he said when contacted by VOI, Tuesday, April 20.

Tauhid said that the THR given at the end would be a savings. This is because the government has imposed a ban on going home this year. Thus, the money that should have been spent on transportation costs, up to the needs of Eid, will be converted into savings.

"We are prohibited from going home on May 6-17. A week before. Just holding the THR, we are not allowed to go home. But if (THR) is given first, people have more time to spend," he said.

Contacted separately, Indonesia's Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Senior Economist Piter Abdullah said that the difference in time for THR disbursement between civil servants and workers or laborers was not too far away. So, it doesn't really matter.

"It's a little different. The point is everyone gets the THR. It's just a big difference and just the time," he said.

Piter said that the THR was given because it was a worker's right. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving THR is a manifestation of justice.

"It is hoped that it can boost consumption a little, which in turn will help the economy survive the pandemic," he explained.

As is known, the government will accelerate the disbursement of THR for PNS, TNI and Polri this year. Coordinating Minister (Menko) for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said that the THR for civil servants was disbursed H-10 before Eid.

The THR amount for 2020 is regulated in Government Regulation (PP) No.24 / 2020. Among these include basic salary, family allowance, and job allowance or general allowance. The THR component for pensioners includes basic pension, family allowances, and additional income allowances.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah emphasized that employers are required to pay THR in full to workers or laborers at a maximum of D-7 Eid Al-Fitr 2021. However, the government has made concessions for companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that cannot pay THR. according to the specified time.

"A maximum allowance can be given for D-1 Lebaran, provided that employers are required to have a dialogue with workers to reach an agreement based on transparent financial reports and reported in writing to the local manpower office before D-7 Lebaran," he said at the launch of the THR 2021 Post in Jakarta, Monday, April 19.